Leighanne and Alex's St. Petersburg wedding combined a timeless black and white palette with accents of crimson and gold befitting their December date. Festive greenery added a natural touch to the chic tented reception space, complete with strands of bistro lights and suspended vines of garland.
“We had our wedding ceremony and reception outdoors in December, so we chose an elegant garden party with lots of romantic jewel tones. We chose the theme for our wedding based on the venue and time of year,” the bride shared. “We selected classic black dresses and tuxes for our bridal party. We felt it was a color that would look great on everyone and that is timeless. We chose complementary jewel tones for our flowers, with plenty of gold accents and warm candle lighting.”
The local Pinellas bride turned to Marry Me Tampa Bay for inspiration while planning their celebration. The articles and advice from real couples provided insight when making decorative decisions that would be meaningful for the pair.
“I read numerous Marry Me Tampa Bay articles and was in awe of how people personalized their weddings and what made them special to them,” Leighanne articulated. “Overall, it made me think about special and important things we would like to incorporate on our special day.”
Leighanne recognized the value of working with an experienced wedding planner to help execute her vision and keep the planning process manageable and enjoyable. From the first conversation with Wilder Mind Events, she knew she found a wedding planner who would help guide them through the important decisions and event logistics while also allowing the couple to be fully present to enjoy the wedding day experience.
“We wanted someone vibrant, responsive, organized, creative, and extremely easy to work with, and it was a major plus if they were a dog lover like we are! From the first phone call I had with Delaney at Wilder Mind Events, I knew her company was an immediate hire,” the bride gushed. “She listened to all of our ideas, and within 30 minutes, she added to our ideas, and I could already feel our vision coming to life. She was honestly the best choice, hands down, I made for my wedding. She was experienced and had connections in the area where I felt comfortable with her guidance. She was patient and understanding with any concerns we had. She was always prompt and went above and beyond to ensure all contracts, vendors, and loose ends were tied up. We did not have to worry one bit on our wedding day. 10/10! The best service ever, and I can't wait to use them again for future events!”
Leighanne and Alex added personal touches to their 110-guest celebration, including personalized vows, having their pups attend the ceremony, and including the groom's favorite sweet treat after dinner.
“The biggest thing we did to incorporate our personalities in the wedding was writing our own vows. Our furbabies were featured as our ring bearers, and specialty drinks were named after them. We also had a custom drawing of us with our dogs on a canvas we used as our guestbook, which was a huge deal to us,” the bride detailed. “We picked out our favorite murals in downtown St. Pete to have our bridal party take photographs at, so we will have memories at all our favorite spots together. Alex is a huge Publix donut fan, so having those as part of our dessert table was key.”
The couple prioritized their reception menu, seeking a wedding caterer who could customize their dinner selections beyond the typical offerings while also ensuring guests would enjoy delicious and freshly-plated meals. With nearly 40 years of experience, Amici's Catered Cuisine impressed the bride and groom at their initial tasting meeting and then wowed the attendees on the wedding day with a dinner service as detailed as it was delectable!
“We wanted delicious options that wouldn't taste like your typical wedding food. Choosing Amici's came as another highly recommended vendor from our planner. We love Italian cuisine, and they really wowed us with their tasting! They were also very flexible and accommodating. We really customized our menu, and they did not miss a beat. Amici's allowed us to upgrade a few items we really wanted included in our menu,” Leighanne raved. “We were getting rave reviews on our food for weeks to come as the selections were superb and all the guests were full! Everything, including their timely service to our guests, was perfect.”
Guests dined and danced under a canopy tent amongst the gardens. Their DJ, Ben Daniele, from Grant Hemond & Associates, kept the dance floor full throughout the evening and also professionally emceed the celebration, seamlessly orchestrating introductions, speeches, and formalities.
The heartfelt words that were shared by their wedding party will remain a treasured memory for Leighanne and Alex. From laughter to tears, the emotional experience left everyone truly touched.
“Our most memorable moment of the night was the speeches. My brother was my man of honor, and he had the whole crowd laughing with his speech. He gave the perfect amount of hilarious and heartfelt anecdotes in the speech, and it was so special. Alex's brother-in-law was his best man, and he gave an awesome tribute to Alex's late father and brought sentiment, joy, and tons of laughs to our audience,” the bride reminisced. “Hands down, to this day, people are still talking about the speeches.”
Where did you host your bachelorette party?
Tulum, Mexico. It had a good amount of adventure, nature, nightlife, and, of course, chips and salsa! We truly had the best time, and I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat.
The Proposal:
We went on a group trip to Park City, Utah. Upon arrival at our Airbnb, Alex decided to take me to a mountain called Little Baldy Peak at Deer Valley Resort, just the two of us.
Once we arrived at the top of the mountain, we walked a short distance and could see the slopes and valleys below. I turned around to appreciate the view, and when I looked back, Alex was on one knee. It was so beautiful, and he had a photographer hiding who captured the special moment for us. We were then surprised by our friends at the St. Regis Hotel and spent the night celebrating with them!
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
Wedding planning was so time-consuming, so we decided on a delayed honeymoon to Greece, which is coming up this fall. We chose Greece for its history, food, and romantic setting. It has plenty of adventure while allowing us to relax into our newlywed life. We are so excited!
What did you look for in a wedding planner?
We wanted someone vibrant, responsive, organized, creative, and extremely easy to work with, and it was a major plus if they were a dog lover like we are!
From the first phone call I had with Delaney at Wilder Mind Events, I knew her company was an immediate hire. She listened to all of our ideas, and within 30 minutes, she added to our ideas, and I could already feel our vision coming to life. She was honestly the best choice, hands down, I made for my wedding. She was experienced and had connections in the area where I felt comfortable with her guidance. She was patient and understanding with any concerns we had. She was always prompt and went above and beyond to ensure all contracts, vendors, and loose ends were tied up. We did not have to worry one bit on our wedding day. 10/10! The best service ever, and I can't wait to use them again for future events!
What were your wedding hair and makeup inspiration?
I wanted a classic and natural look with a touch of glam.
Looking at Femme Akoi Beauty Studios‘ work, I saw many of their artists focus on accentuating natural beauty. I wanted to look like the best version of myself, and they did just that. They were accommodating to my entire wedding party, while some chose full glam, and the artists attended to that. Others wanting a subtle look got exactly what they needed as well. No one was unhappy with their hair or makeup, which made the day that much more easy.
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
We had our wedding ceremony and reception outdoors in December, so we chose an elegant garden party with lots of romantic jewel tones. We chose the theme for our wedding based on the venue and time of year.
What were your colors?
We selected classic black dresses and tuxes for our bridal party. We felt it was a color that would look great on everyone and that is timeless. We chose complementary jewel tones for our flowers, with plenty of gold accents and warm candle lighting.
What did you look for in a wedding catering company?
We wanted delicious options that wouldn't taste like your typical wedding food. Choosing Amici's Catered Cuisine came as another highly recommended vendor from our planner. We love Italian cuisine, and they really wowed us with their tasting! They were also very flexible and accommodating. We really customized our menu, and they did not miss a beat. Amici's allowed us to upgrade a few items we really wanted included in our menu. We were getting rave reviews on our food for weeks to come as the selections were superb, and all the guests were full! Everything, including their timely service to our guests, was perfect.
What did you look for in a wedding DJ?
Grant Hemond & Associates had wonderful reviews online, and their price point was unbeatable. I knew of others who had hired them in the past and were equally impressed, so it was a no-brainer.
Our planner recommended DJ Ben Daniele, and he nailed it! It was also his birthday on the night of our wedding, which made it that much fun.
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
We feel that everyone exceeded our expectations, truly. However, our videographer truly went above and beyond. We were on the fence about hiring a videographer, but we ended up doing so, and it was one of our literal best decisions. Equally so, our photographer showed up and showed out in every way. Her vibrant and classic pictures are unmatched, and she worked effortlessly to get the best shots of the day. Lastly, our florist made our wildest dreams come true. We had a vision that we wanted to make our reception tent into an overgrown secret garden, and she strung Italian ruscus all throughout the tent while giving us a grand entryway to the tent and matching beautifully and creatively designed centerpieces to every table.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples? Do what makes you happy. It is your day, completely, so keep people close to you who will celebrate whatever type of day you envision as your best. This is the one day you get to be completely selfish, to celebrate your new life. SOAK. IT. IN. It goes by in a flash, seriously.
Our officiant and friend advised us to every so often just look around, take in the night, and try to capture the memory as best we could. Best advice ever!
